Corn-planter.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

A. J. BROWN.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED unzs, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

lawn? PATmTEn J me, 1906.

A. J. BROWN.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed May 25, 1905. Serial No. 262.174.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-planters and the like; and one object of my improvements is to provide means for connecting the axle of the drive-wheels with the feed-plates and for operating the latter.

A further object is to provide means whereby the driver may raise the drive-wheels clear off the ground when turning at the end of the field or while crossing the field to readjust their position to the line of hills of seed previously planted.

A further object is to provide the drivewheels with means for indicating the location of the hills of seed dropped by the planter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved planter, a portion of the tongue being broken away; Fig. 2, a side view of the planter, showing the near drivewheel removed, the opposite drive-wheel resting on the ground, the auxiliary wheels elevated, and a portion of the main frame broken away; Fig. 3, a view of same supported by the auxiliary wheels, the drive-wheels being elevated above the ground; Fig. 4, a top plan view of the auxiliary frame and wheels detached from the planter; Fig. 5, a view taken on a plane of the circumference of a cam-wheel forming apart of my improvements; Fig. 6, a side view of an oscillatingv bar detached from the planter; Fig. 7, a view in elevation of the outer side of one of the drive-wheels, and Figs. 8 and 9 views taken on a plane of the circumference of cam-wheels of modified form.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents the main frame, which is rectangular in its general contour and of skeleton formation. Said frame is provided at its front end with a tongue 2 and at its rear end with aseat 3 and is mounted on an axle 4:, provided at each end with a drive-wheel 5. Said axle is rigidly secured to and adapted to revolve with the said drive-wheels. of the drive-wheels are three indicators or markers 6, located equal distances apart and adjacent to the periphery of the wheels and adapted to make impressions in the soil in rod 9 is a pin 9 the .wheels.

Secured to each line with the hills of seed dropped by the planter. The circumference of each of the drive-wheels is equal to three times the distance between the hills of seed, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Two shoes or furrow-openers 7 of ordinary construction are secured to the outer ends of the cross-beams of the main frame directly 1n front of the drive-wheels and adapted to open furrows to receive seed dropped from the hoppers 8, located on the ends of one of the said cross-beams. Feed-plates 9 of ord 1- nary construction are slidably arranged in the bottom of the said hoppers and connect ed by a rod or bar 9, adapted to move endwise and to operate the said feed-plates. Projecting upwardly from the middle of the sa d purpose of whlch Wlll soon appear.

Rigidly mounted on the middle of the drive-wheel axle and adapted to revolve therewith is a cam-wheel 10, provided in 1ts circumference with an endless serpentine groove 10, which crosses itself three times at equal intervals, as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Pivotally secured to one of the cross-beams is an oscillating bar 11, provided at 1ts front end with a slot 11*, through which the sald pin 9 projects. A guide-runner 11 1s secured to the under side of the rear end of the oscillating bar 11 and is adapted to travel in the said groove 10 in the cam-wheel 10 when the latter revolves, thereby causing the bar 11 to oscillate and move the rod 9 endwise three times to each revolution of the drive- An auxiliary frame 12 is connected with the main frame by means of an iron rod 13, which passes through the side beams of the main frame and through the front ends of the side beams of the auxiliary frame. The rear end of the said auxiliary frame is mounted on an axle 14, provided at each end with a wheel 15, the purpose of which will soon appear. A foot-lever 16, consisting, preferably, of an iron bar, is pivotally connected with the auxiliary frame at 16 16 and is provided at each of its ends with a roller 16 which is adapted to engage the under edge of the side beams of the main frame when the foot-lever is operated. Arocking shaft 18 is arranged in the main frame near the main axle and is adapted to be operated by a hand-lever 17 and is provided with two pulleys 19,

each carryin a chain 20, connected with and adapted to ift and support said auxiliary frame when the hand-lever is raised upright, as in Fig. 2. Rigidly secured to the said rocking shaft are two cams 21, situated directly above and adapted to engage concave seats 12 formed in the upper edge of the side beams of the auxiliary frame when the hand-lever is drawn backward and downward and the planter elevated and supported u on the auxiliary wheels, as indicated in Flg. 3 of the drawings.

After the planter has been assembled in the manner shown and described and a team hitched thereto its operation is as follows: The lever 17 is thrown forward, so as to elevate the auxiliary frame and wheels, as indicated in Fig. 2, with the drive-wheels carrying the weightof the I lanter' and with the shoes partially embed ed in the soil. The planter is then drawn across the field in the usual manner, thereby causing the camwheel 10 to rotate, which in turn causes the bar 11 to oscillate, which latter in turn moves the bar 9 endwise, thereby causing the planter to drop seed three times for every revolution of the drive-wheels, as previously ex lained. The relative arrangement of the drive-wheels, the cam-wheel, the feed-plates, and the markers 6 is such that the latter make impressions in the soil directly opposite or in line with each pair of hills of seed deposited in the soil by the planter. If after having planted two or more rows the driver discovers that the planter is not planting the seed in direct line with those previously planted, he stops the team and without leaving his seat raises the drive-wheels free of the ground by means of the levers 16 and 17 in the manner previously explained and then readjusts the drive-wheels to the proper position by turning same with his hand, so that the markers 6 will make impressions in line with those previously made in the rows already planted.

It will be seen that the number of markers 6 on the drive-wheels may be increased or di minished, as desired, in proportion to the size of the drive-wheels employed. Two markers may be used on each drive-wheel in place of three by using drive-wheels having a circumference equal to twice the distance between the hills of seed and a cam-wheel hav ing a circumference 22 provided with a groove 22"", which latter would cause the planter to drop twice to each revolution of the drivewheels, or four markers may be used on each drive-Wheel by using drive-wheels having a circumference equal to four times the distance between the hills of seed and a camwheel having a circumference 23 provided with a groove 23*, which latter would cause the planter to drop four times to each revolution of the drive-wheels.

If desired to drill the seed, the distance between the hills may be diminished by increasing the number of curves in the groove on the cam-wheel or by diminishing the diameter of the drive-wheels. When the planter drops an even number of timesas two, four, or sixto each revolution of the drive-wheel, the worm-groove in the cam-wheel need not cross itself.

A worm or rib may be employed in lace of the said groove and a notch formed in the guide-runner or in the end of the oscillating bar to receive said worm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cornilanter, drive-wheels mounted on a rotatab e axle; a main frame mounted on said axle; an auxiliary frame having one end hinged to the main frame, and provided at its opposite end with auxiliary wheels, and having side plates each provided with a concave seat formed in its upper edge; a rocking shaft connected with the main frame; means for partially rotating said shaft; cams secured on said shaft, and adapted to engage the said concave seats in the auxiliary frame; seed-hoppers supported by the main frame; feed-plates arranged in said hoppers; a cam-wheel secured on said axle, and encircled by an .endless serpentine groove formed in its circumference, said groove crossing it itself three times at equal intervals; a lever fulcrumed. on the main frame, and having one of its ends connected with the said feedplates, and provided at its opposite end with means adapted to travel in the groove in the cam-wheel.

2. In a corn-planter, a main frame mounted on a main axle; an auxiliary frame having one end connected with the main frame, and provided at its opposite end with auxiliary wheels; a Ushaped foot-lever having its opposite sides fulcrumed on the auxiliary frame, and provided at each of its ends with a roller adapted to. engage the under side of the main frame; and a cam-wheel mounted on the main axle, and encircled by a serpentine groove crossing itself three times, for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a planter or the like having drive-wheels and a main frame; an auxiliary frame having its front end hinged to the main frame, and provided at its .rear end with auxiliary wheels, said auxiliary frame having side plates provided with concave seats formed in their upper ed e a rocking shaftsup orted by the main frame and provided wit a lever for partially rotating same; and cams secured on said rocking shaft and adapted to engage the said concave seats in the auxiliary frame for the purpose described.

4. In combination with a planter or the like having drive-wheels and a main frame; an auxiliary frame having oneend hinged to the main frame, and provided at its opposite In testimony whereof I aflix my signature end with auxiliary Wheels; a U-shaped footin presence of Witnesses.

lever having its opposite sides fulorumed on ANDREW J. BROWN. the auxiliary frame, and provided at each of Witnesses:

5 its ends With a roller adapted to engage the O. K. FREGO,

under side of the main frame for the purpose YETTA EHRLIOH,

described. I. DAUKE. 

